Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-09-30
JAPANESE PROGRESS.
An Oriental Nation which Is Adopting Dc
cidental Dress and Manners.

/
An Oriental Nation which Is Adopting oc-
| cfdental Dress and Manners.
Among the late arrivals at San Fran
cisco from Japan were w. c. De Lano
Eastlake and his mother. In an inter-
view with reporter, Mr.. Eastlake por-
trayed in pleasing colors the country
I and its people.
The people are fast advancing0in the
civilization of their political, moral and
intellectual lives. In the customs of
dress there has been a marked change
during the last decade, until now the
officials aud the better classes assume
the English costume. Among the former
it is compulsory, and upon the street
the old Japanese garb is seldom seen
except on the poorer classes. Among
the ladies, however, the loose gowns of
the olden days are still popular, but
even these are gradually becoming OBJ
solete and at the fashionable balls the
European dress is generally assumed,
while the programmes of the Japanese
orchestras generally include the best of
English music.
The odd yet picturesque style of hair
dressing which has so long prevailed
in the country has been superseded by
that of the American woman, and the
fair foreheads of the royal ladies are
already hidden by the bang so common
in our own country. The fashions,
however. are not set by the Empress.
The style adopted by the Ministers
wives is considered quite the proper
thing. and following their example, all
ladies of culture have stopped blacking
their teeth and shaving their eyebrows.
The intellectual progress of the peo-
pie of Japan has been almost unparal-
leled. Not only has the educational
system been established all over the
empire, but the capital city boasts of a
university that can compare favorably
with the best colleges of the CONT
mont. German professors, prominent
for scientific works and research,
have filed the chairs in the scientific
and medical departments of the I'm
perial University, while in literature,
both ancient and modern, English and
Americans of advanced thought have
been chosen instructors Recently the
staff of foreign professors has been di-
minished and the vacancies filled by
Japanese literati who have returned
from study abroad.
The works of Huxley, Spencer, Oar
win and others have been translated
into Japanese. and are familiar hand
books to students in Japan. The pro-
INDICATORS of Christianity find that they
have proud scepticism to contend
with. The japanese talk of the "evo
luton of species" and the nebulal
hypothesis as glibly as our learned
men. Buddhism is still the predomin
ating faith, but Christianity is rapidly
establishing itself among the more in
tellectual classes, although many of the
high officials express extreme bitter
ness to the doctrine and its introduc
ton This bitterness is 50 great thai
to profess Christianity means the loss
of an Official position. The people are
not conservative, however, and it is
onlya matter of time when the Chris
tian faith will be accepted throughout
the country. In all the large cities pub
lie schools are maintained, and it is com
pulsory that after attaining certain
age children shall be sent to school. In
Toxic there are two large law schools,
one of which is conducted in the French
and the other in the English language.
Added to these is an engineering col
lege, with over 10000 volumes, and it;
extensive laboratories, which have beer
recently merged with the Imperial Col
lege.
Political. affairs are not behind in thu
onward march of civilization, and thu
chief excitement of the country now il
the preparation for the National AS
sembly promised for 1890. The groun,
is already purchased and the Assembl,
buildings commenced, although there
is naturally some misapprehension OIL
the part of suspicious minds that tn
, Government may mot carry out 1t
+ promises to the people. AS it nov
J, stands, the governments in the hand
of the Emperor, assisted by the Senat
, and House of Lords, which in the Jap
, anese is called "Gen ro-in." Tho Ma
tional Assembly will be composed G
, representatives elected by the peopl
, from the various districts into whic
I the country is divided, thus making til
empire partial republic. Laws re
garding press criticism and publ
! speech are very stringent. and in Meth
a er is criticism of the Government al
I lowed Regarding Japan's relation
with America l am able to speak a
, length. My visit to this country is i
+ the interest of an extension of tn
+ mercantile traffic. The United State
, and its people are regarded with grea
{ respect by the Japanese, and in thei
! eyes. as the FIJI Shimpo, one of tn
leading journals, expresses it. Americ
. stands out in the world like a blossom
ing1plum branch among a thicket {
brambles. diffusing rich fragranc
and compelling the admiration of a
5 for her great name and vigorous policy
9 San Francisco Chron icte.